Genetica is Spiral Graphics' popular seamless texture, animation, and HDRI environment map editor. If you want to make log or detailing textures, you can try to use one of new features of this release called simply “Text” with which you can create text directly within Genetica eventually turn your text into stone, wood, glass, metal, and more. 

XfrogPlants offers 3D high quality models of plant tree and flowers now in their library. Over the past 10 years Xfrog has built the 600 species that are now available to for the first time from store as individual species. Xfrog`s botanical experts go out in the field and reference photograph each plant to capture first-hand the plant textures. They then compare the plant found in nature to extensive printed research work, and build the most realistic 3D plants available. 

Advices to make better demo reel of Steve Warner, executive director of DAVE school, was published in Pixologic`s series „Artist in Action“. He offers some tips and tricks how to boost your demo reel and he points out, on what should you give an attention. This article contains almost one hour step by step tutorials. 

In a few days will be able to buy in UK new issue of 3D World magazine. But already now is able to see some videos, which accompanies a tutorial in 3D World issue 145. So already now you can see how James Horn shows you how to model and texture an interior scene from scratch with game development in mind or how Glen Southern offers tips and techniques for modelling a character with the aim of making rigging more effective etc.